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Happy Friday, everyone, and welcome to another Michigan Recruiting Roundup!
Today we have updates on three 2021 prospects, so let’s get right to it!
Top in-state OL looking to commit this spring
One of the top kids in not just the state, but also the country, in the 2021 cycle is four-star offensive lineman Rocco Spindler. The Clarkston native is currently ranked No. 40 overall in his class on 247Sports’ composite, and has been heavily recruited by offensive line coach Ed Warinner and tight ends coach Sherrone Moore.
The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder recently spoke with 247Sports’ Allen Trieu ($), and told him he is looking to commit this May. He is also looking to take some visits before that decision.
“I’m thinking Michigan for sure (for an official visit), Notre Dame, Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, possibly Penn State and Arizona State. Those schools have definitely made a mark in my recruitment,” Spindler said.
Spindler has developed a close bond with commits J.J. McCarthy and Giovanni El-Hadi, so Michigan is looking pretty good here. There is some stiff competition, mainly from Notre Dame and Ohio State, but I believe Michigan still leads right now.
At this juncture, Michigan has 71 percent of the crystal balls, with 14 percent to Notre Dame and 14 percent undecided.
U-M eyeing five-star West Coast DT
Jim Harbaugh and company are in it for a few five-stars in the 2021 class. A new five-star target for the Wolverines is defensive tackle J.T. Tuimoloau.
The 6-foot-4.5, 277-pounder from Sammamish, Washington is the No. 4 player in the 2021 class, per 247Sports’ composite. According to The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($), the coaching staff plans to go “all in” on Tuimoloau.
“While he’s presumed to a heavy lean to the hometown Huskies, I’m told the Wolverines will be going all in on targeting Tuimoloau,” Marich wrote.
After not taking a true interior prospect in the 2020 class, defensive tackle is a big position of need for Michigan in 2021. Shaun Nua and company are already in it for four-stars Tywone Malone and Victory Vaka, so hearing they are going after the top defensive tackle in the class shouldn’t come as a surprise.
This is going to be a difficult pull for Michigan, but Nua is a pretty good recruiter and has the chance to reel in a few big-time defensive linemen in this class. We will see how good a recruiter he truly is by the time this class is all locked in.
WR has tentative commitment date, wants to visit U-M
Unlike defensive tackle, wide receiver will likely not be a huge need for the Wolverines in the 2021 class. There’s no question they will still go after a few guys and likely take at least one, but if they don’t get a top-ranked guy on their board, it won’t be a huge deal.
One of the options for this class is three-star Devin Kirkwood, a 6-foot-3, 175-pounder from Gardena, California. His recruitment is starting to take off, with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, USC and others trickling in.
He received his Michigan offer last month and instantly put Michigan at the top of his list, as Jonathon Simmons told you in last week’s Wednesday Recruiting Roundup. He now has a commitment date in mind for later this year.
“I want to commit on Oct. 3, that’s my birthday,” Kirkwood told 247Sports’ Greg Biggins ($). “I’m definitely planning to visit Michigan, that’s one school I know I want to check out. I don’t know how many schools I’ll officially visit this spring or wait until the fall but I want to get to Michigan soon.
He has yet to visit Ann Arbor, so if he does get to campus this year, I wouldn’t be too hesitant to say the Wolverines would be the favorite to land him. I know he said Michigan is on top right now, but he’s still just a junior in high school and has a long way to go before he signs his letter of intent. A lot can change. But he has plenty of interest in Michigan early on and genuinely seems interested in the program. The Wolverines are off to a good start here.
That’s all for this week! Beginning next week, the Recruiting Roundup is moving to Tuesday and Thursday, so be on the lookout for the next roundup on Tuesday!